Do you ever suspect that kids save their best questions for just before "goodnight" as a delaying tactic? Or is there some other plausible explanation for a kid regularly entering into deeply interesting territory on the way to dream time?
Dr. Free-Ride: Sweet dreams.
Elder offspring: Why are feet ticklish?
Dr. Free-Ride: Huh?
Elder offspring: Why are feet ticklish?
Dr. Free-Ride: I suppose it probably has to do with how may nerve endings there are up near the surface of the soles of your feet.
Elder offspring: The soles of my feet are down, not up.
Dr. Free-Ride: OK, if you insist.
Elder offspring: But why are they ticklish? What are all those nerve endings there for?
Dr. Free-Ride: Hmm. You're saying that if our bodies have a certain feature, there's probably a good reason for that feature to be there?
Elder offspring: Yeah. So what's the reason humans have ticklish feet?
Dr. Free-Ride: Obviously, so I can tickle your feet to wake you up in the morning!
Elder offspring: No!
Dr. Free-Ride: Well, why do you think they're ticklish?
Elder offspring: Mmm ... maybe so we'll notice stuff when we walk?
Dr. Free-Ride: That's an interesting thought. But there's some stuff that it would hurt to walk on barefoot, what with all those nerves. And people who spend a lot of time walking barefoot get thick callouses on the soles of their feet that might make their feet less ticklish.
Elder offspring: Maybe all the nerves are there to make us wear shoes that protect our feet.
Dr. Free-Ride: Are you saying our feet are the product of our co-evolution with shoemakers?
Elder offspring: Mmm-hmm.
Dr. Free-Ride: Good night!
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